January 1891 marked the start of one of Australia's most famous (or infamous) industrial disputes, the Shearers' Strike. On January 5, 1891 the strike began at Logan Downs Station in Central Queensland, when the station manager asked shearers sign a contract which would reduce working conditions and entitlements as well as the influence of the union.
Bladeshearing, Aramac ca 1890. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 18977
Union camp in Barcaldine during the 1891 Shearers' Strike. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 2027
The strike spread across other stations in Central Queensland towns such as Clermont, Barcaldine, Emerald, Springsure, Hughenden and Capella. Pastoralists attempted to introduce strikebreakers (non-union affilated shearers) who worked for a lower rate. Tensions ran high with police and troopers called in to protect the non-union workers as well as the property of the pastoralists. Striking shearers formed armed camps outside of towns.
Hughenden Strike Camp, Queensland 1891. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 171876
After several months the strike was ultimately unsuccessful for the shearers, with many falling on hard times due to a lack of money. Thirteen of the strike ringleaders were arrested and sentenced to three years hard labour at St Helena Island prison. The strike however would eventually lead to the formation of the Australian Labor Party. You can find more detail about the 1891 Shearers' Strike in Shearers On Strike by R.C.Sharman (1963 - Journal of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland).
State Library of Queensland holds a number of materials recording this significant historical event which can be found through our One Search catalogue including a number of photographs from the period which have been digitised. A sample of these photographs are below.
Shearers' strike at Charleville May 1891. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image API-013-01-0004
Townsville foot infantry in Hughenden during the Shearers' Strike 1891. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 16099
Townsville Mounted Infantry soldiers escorting a wagon train of blackleg workers to Hughenden Station during the 1891 Shearers' strike. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 171630
Soldiers on horseback riding west through the Hughenden district 1891. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 7750-0001-0004
Striking shearers' on the move through the Hughenden district 1891. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 7750-0001-0002
Strikers Library at Barcaldine during the 1891 Shearers' Strike. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 45647
Camp Police portrait at Barcaldine during the Shearers' Strikes of 1891. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 45656
Myles Sinnamon - Project Coordinator, State Library of Queensland
Previous title - 125th anniversary - 1891 Shearers' Strike
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